Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “angle diffusion”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 361 records · Page 20

Volume Diffusion Growth Kinetics and Step Geometry in Crystal Growth

The role of step geometry in two-dimensional stationary volume diff4sion process used in crystal growth kinetics models is investigated. Three different interface shapes: a) a planar interface, b) an equidistant hemispherical bumps train tAx interface, and c) a train of right angled steps, are used in this comparative study. The ratio of the super-saturation to the diffusive flux at the step position is used as a control parameter. The value of this parameter can vary as much as 50% for different geometries. An approximate analytical formula is derived for the right angled steps geometry. In addition to the kinetic models, this formula can be utilized in macrostep growth models. Finally, numerical modeling of the diffusive and convective transport for equidistant steps is conducted. In particular, the role of fluid flow resulting from the advancement of steps and its contribution to the transport of species to the steps is investigated.

Mazuruk, Konstantin↗

Lunar reflectivity at 0.86-centimeter wavelength.

Measurement of backscattering of 0.86-cm circularly polarized radiation by 29 regions on the moon. Both circular polarizations were received. At a given angle of incidence, power received in the 'expected' polarization was greater for the highland regions than for the seas by roughly 1 dB. For moderately large angles of incidence phi, this return diminishes more rapidly than cosine phi, although perhaps not as rapidly as it does at longer wavelengths. The cross section of the whole moon is 5 plus or minus 2% of the geometric cross section; about 80% of the cross section is ascribable to diffuse scattering. The polarization ratio for the echoes varies smoothly with the angle of incidence, from 0.7 at the subradar point to 0.4 at 70 deg. The depolarization is the same for marial and highland regions, and at large angles of incidence it is the same as has been found at 23 and 68 cm by other workers.

Mccue, J. J. G.↗

Diffusion of charged particles in a random magnetic field

When charged particles move in a random magnetic field superimposed upon a relatively large constant field, their pitch angle distribution can be calculated to any desired precision by an iterative approximation procedure. Improved knowledge of the pitch angle distribution and of the characteristic time for relaxation of anisotropy leads to an accurate expression for the coefficient of diffusion parallel to the mean field.

Earl, J. A.↗

Multilevel methods for transport equations in diffusive regimes

We consider the numerical solution of the single-group, steady state, isotropic transport equation. An analysis by means of the moment equations shows that a discrete ordinate S(sub N) discretization in direction (angle) with a least squares finite element discretization in space does not behave properly in the diffusion limit. A scaling of the S(sub N) equations is introduced so that the least squares discretization has the correct diffusion limit. For the resulting discrete system a full multigrid algorithm was developed.

Manteuffel, Thomas A.↗

Pressure recovery, drag, and subcritical stability characteristics of conical supersonic diffusers with boundary-layer removal

A study of two 20 degrees half-angle, low mass-flow ratio conical supersonic inlets with cone boundary-layer bleed was made on a 16-inch ram-jet engine in the Lewis 8- by 6-foot supersonic wind tunnel. A greater stable subcritical range of operation was obtained with the bleed inlets than with the corresponding inlet without boundary-layer bleed. The drag added by the bleed system was small.

Obey, Leonard T↗

Diffusion of charged particles in a random magnetic field.

When charged particles move in a random magnetic field superposed upon a relatively large constant field, their pitch-angle distribution can be calculated to any desired precision by an iterative approximation procedure. Improved knowledge of the pitch-angle distribution and of the characteristic time for relaxation of anisotropy leads to an accurate expression for the coefficient of diffusion parallel to the mean field.

Earl, J. A.↗

Coherent propagation of charged particle bunches in random magnetic fields

When the distribution function for energetic particles moving in interplanetary space is expressed in terms of eigenfunctions of an operator which describes pitch angle scattering by random magnetic fields, the familiar phenomenon of diffusion is the dominant solution of the transport equations provided that the spectrum of magnetic fluctuations is not too steep. The present paper describes a novel mode of particle transport when the latter condition is not satisfied (i.e., when the exponent for the spectrum of magnetic fluctuations is greater than 2). In this mode, the density inhomogeneities propagate coherently, in wavelike fashion, and with very little dispersion along the guiding field at a characteristic velocity equal to half the particle speed. The most striking manifestation of this phenomenon is the observed scatter-free propagation of solar flare electrons below 1 MeV.-

Earl, J. A.↗

Coherent propagation of charged-particle bunches in random magnetic fields

When the distribution function for energetic particles moving in interplanetary space is expressed in terms of eigenfunctions of an operator which describes pitch-angle scattering by random magnetic fields, the familiar phenomenon of diffusion is the dominant solution of the transport equations provided that the spectrum of magnetic fluctuations is not too steep. However, if the power-versus-wavenumber spectrum of the random fields has a spectral index greater than 2, the dominant solution of the same equations is a qualitatively different mode of transport in which density inhomogeneities propagate coherently along the guiding field with a characteristic velocity equal to half the particle speed. The present work, which extends classical transport theory to give a detailed treatment of the new mode, presents explicit formulae which describe the spatial and temporal structure of the coherent disturbance. It is shown that this disturbance evolves asymptotically into a moving Gaussian pulse whose width increases with time.

Earl, J. A.↗

A simplified treatment of SiB's land surface albedo parameterization

The earlier presented surface albedo parameterization is simplified by assuming that the reflectance of direct solar radiation is a simple function of solar zenith angle. The function chosen contains three parameters that vary with vegetation type, greenness, and leaf area index. Tables of parameter values are presented. Using these tables, SiB's (Simple Biosphere model) absorbances of direct solar radiation can be reproduced with an average relative error of less than 0.5 percent. Finally, the direct reflectance function is integrated over zenith angle to produce an equation for the surface reflectance of diffuse radiation.

Koster, Randal D.↗

SIRTF stray light analysis

The Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is a 1-meter cryogenic infrared telescope. Stray light is kept below the natural background by restrictions on sun, Earth, and moon off-axis angles; by conservative baffle design; by the use of advanced diffuse black coatings; and by superfluid helium cooling. The aperture stop is located at the primary mirror rather than at the secondary mirror to increase the aperture and reduce the central obscuration. Stray light from off-axis sources is greater with the aperture stop at the primary than with the aperture stop at the secondary, but the modulation of the signal produced by tilting of the secondary mirror for chopping is less. Stray light from telescope thermal emission is lower with the aperture stop at the primary.

Elliott, David G.↗

Performance of an All-internal Conical Compression Inlet with Annular Throat Bleed at Mach Number 5.0

An all-internal conical compression inlet with annular bleed at the throat was investigated at Mach 5.0 and zero angle of attack. The minimum contraction ratio of the supersonic diffuser, coincident with a mass-flow ratio of 1.0, was determined to be 0.084 as compared with the isentropic contraction ratio of 0.04 at Mach 5.0. The over-all inlet performance was very sensitive to the amount of annular bleed at the throat because of the extensive boundary layer. For example, the critical recovery varied from 41 percent with 6-percent bleed to 59 percent with 25-percent bleed. Decreasing the spacing between the supersonic and subsonic diffusers increased the critical mass-flow ratio but reduced the range of subcritical mass-flow regulation. A constant-area section was required ahead of the subsonic diffuser in order to obtain reasonable performance. An inlet-engine net-thrust analysis indicated that the optimum performance occurred with from 20- to 25-percent bleed, depending on how the bypassed air was handled.

Stitt, Leonard E.↗

Modelling of Trapped Radiation Near Jupiter

Energetic (62 to approx. 130 MeV) proton fluxes measured with the Galileo Probe inside Jupiter's main ring (radii 122,500 to 128,940 km) show a modest increase as Jupiter is approached. Solutions of a reduced (1-d) equatorial diffusion equation with-constant losses described by a lifetime tau match those data for tau greater than or equal to 10(exp 9) s for diffusion coefficient D(sub LL) = 10(exp -9) L(exp 4)/s, 10(exp -9) L(exp -3)/s, or 10(exp -10) L(exp 4)/s (this particle population may be undergoing nearly loss-free inward radial diffusion). Tau would increase as Jupiter is approached if its value were determined by pitch angle scattering due to EM wave-particle interactions. if the absolute amplitudes of the waves' magnetic fluctuations did not vary with radial distance. Exploration of numerical solutions of the diffusive transport equation for Jupiter's magnetospheric ions at die planetary ring and closer to Jupiter has been done. Explicit range-energy relationships for energy loss in ring matter (SiO2), modeled as a continuous disk, are incorporated. A spatial resolution of approx. 1000 km in the radial direction is used in the vicinity of the main ring; off-equatorial ion fluxes have been included (assuming the atmosphere is a perfect absorber). For protons the maximum effect of energy loss in the microscopic size range of ring particles is expected at energies approx. 0.1 Mev. Presumably there could be sufficiently large, unobserved bodies within the ring that would have to be modeled as discrete objects, as planetary satellites would be. Within limitations of the model and computational resources it's planned to characterize solutions for transport of magnetospheric ions past the planetary ring; the procedures that are used are fairly well known and may be applied generally to the simpler magnetospheric models.

Mihalov, John D.↗

Improvements in the On-Orbit Response Versus Scan Angle Characterization of the Aqua MODIS Reflective Solar Bands

The Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has been chosen by the Global Space-based Inter-Calibration System operational community as the reference sensor in cross-sensor calibration. A number of geostationary orbit and low-earth orbit sensors use the 0.64-μm band from Aqua MODIS as a calibration reference. After over 15 years on-orbit, the performance characteristics of the MODIS instrument have changed, with effects evident at short wavelengths. MODIS employs a reflectance-based calibration using the solar diffuser measurements with the monthly lunar observations facilitating a response versus scan angle characterization on-orbit. As the instrument continues to operate beyond its design lifetime of 6 years, the on-board calibrators alone are insufficient to accurately characterize the instrument's response at all scan angles. This results in a long-term reflectance drift, particularly observed in the 0.64- and 0.85-μm bands, while observing the temporally invariant desert sites. Long-term reflectance drifts of up to 2% and 3% are observed at the beginning of scan for the 0.64- and 0.85-μm bands, respectively. An approach using earth-view response to supplement the on-board calibrator measurements has been shown to overcome these inadequacies and is now implemented for the 0.64-, 0.85-, 0.46-, and 0.55-μm land bands of Aqua MODIS. This paper presents the details related to the algorithm implementation and an independent evaluation using the Dome Concordia site and deep-convective clouds. This approach has been reviewed, tested, and approved by the MODIS science team and has been implemented in the forward production of the MODIS L1B Collection 6 starting July 9, 2016. This enhanced approach has also been adopted in the MODIS L1B Collection 6.1 reprocess for the entire mission to facilitate an improved quality of downstream science products. The results with the enhanced approach reduce the reflectance drifts to within 0.5% for most cases.

Angal, Amit↗

Structure and Dynamics of Water Confined in Transition Metal Carbide MXenes: Implications for Electrochemical Applications

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) are an important family of electrochemically active 2D materials. MXenes combine high conductivity with hydrophilicity, making them attractive materials for many applications, including electrochemical energy storage, sensing, desalination, and others. In order to better understand the role of structure on MXene properties, here, we investigated the vibrational properties and diffusion of water in MXenes with differing layer thicknesses and transition metal compositions using inelastic, quasi-elastic, and small-angle neutron scattering. We found that all of the Mo-containing MXenes studied here exhibited comparable vibrational dynamics and diffusion coefficients to each other and to previously studied Ti 3 C 2 T x . However, Ti 2 CT x was distinguished by its faster diffusion and more hydroxyl groups compared to the other MXenes studied. These results can help guide the selection of appropriate MXenes for energy storage and electrochemical water purification applications.

MXenes↗

Satellite sweeping in offset, tilted dipole fields

The paper presents a theory for the longitudinally averaged satellite sweeping rate in an offset, tilted dipole magnetic field. It includes the reductions in the sweeping rate when the moon radius is not large compared to the gyroradius or the azimuthal drift distance during a bounce period. With a large tilt angle between the magnetic and rotation axes, moons make large excursions in dipole L value, and more than one moon can sweep at a given L. The sweeping rate peaks at the minimum L for each moon. If the gyroradius is large, additional peaks can occur when the particle mirrors near the moon latitude. To illustrate the theory, sweeping rates are evaluated for parameters relevant to the observations at Uranus by the Voyager 2 Low Energy Charged Particles Experiment. Calculated sweeping rates for ions and electrons are typically two or three orders of magnitude less than the strong-diffusion loss rate. The observation of sweeping signatures at Uranus would imply that pitch-angle scattering there occurs at a rate far below the strong-diffusion limit, contrasting with the situation for energetic ions in the inner Jovian magnetosphere.

Paonessa, Mark T.↗

The nonexistence of a paddlewheel effect in superionic conductors

Since the 1980s, the paddlewheel effect has been suggested as a mechanism to boost lithium-ion diffusion in inorganic materials via the rotation of rotor-like anion groups. However, it remains unclear whether the paddlewheel effect, defined as large-angle anion group rotations assisting Li hopping, indeed exists; furthermore, the physical mechanism by which the anion-group dynamics affect lithium-ion diffusion has not yet been established. In this work, we differentiate various types of rotational motions of anion groups and develop quaternion-based algorithms to detect, quantify, and relate them to lithium-ion motion in ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Our analysis demonstrates that, in fact, the paddlewheel effect, where an anion group makes a large angle rotation to assist a lithium-ion hop, does not exist and thus is not responsible for the fast lithium-ion diffusion in superionic conductors, as historically claimed. Instead, we find that materials with topologically isolated anion groups can enhance lithium-ion diffusivity via a more classic nondynamic soft-cradle mechanism, where the anion groups tilt to provide optimal coordination to a lithium ion throughout the hopping process to lower the migration barrier. This anion-group disorder is static in nature, rather than dynamic and can explain most of the experimental observations. Our work substantiates the nonexistence of the long-debated paddlewheel effect and clarifies any correlation that may exist between anion-group rotations and fast ionic diffusion in inorganic materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Pressure Recovery, Drag, and Subcritical Stability Characteristics of Three Conical Supersonic Diffusers at Stream Mach Numbers from 1.7 to 2.0

A study of a 20 degree and a 25 degree half-angle high mass-flow ratio conical supersonic inlet was made on a 16-inch ram jet in the 8- by 6-foot supersonic tunnel. A greater range of stable subcritical operation was obtained with the low mass-flow ratio inlets; a greater range was obtained with the 25 degree than with the 20 degree half-angle low mass-flow ratio inlet. The high mass-flow ratio inlet had the least drag.

DIFFUSERS, SUPERSONIC↗

The protons and electrons trapped in the Jovian dipole magnetic field region and their interaction with Io

Detailed analysis of electrons equal to or greater than 3 MeV and of protons 0.5 to 1.8 MeV and equal to or greater than 35 MeV for both the inbound and the outbound passes of the Pioneer 10 spacecraft. Conclusive evidence is obtained that the trapped radiation in Jupiter's inner magnetosphere is maintained and supplied by inward diffusion from the outer regions of the trapped radiation zone. It is shown that the time required for isotropization of an anisotropic flux by pitch angle scattering inside L approximately equal to 6 is long in comparison with the time required for particles to diffuse inward from L approximately equal to 6 to L approximately equal to 3, that the high-energy protons were not injected at high energies by the Crand (cosmic ray albedo neutron decay) process but were accelerated in the magnetosphere of Jupiter, and that the main conclusions of this analysis are unaffected by use of either the D sub 1 or the D sub 2 magnetic field models. Theoretical studies of the capture of trapped electrons and protons by Io have been carried out, and it is found that the probability of capture by Io depends strongly upon the particle species and kinetic energy.

Simpson, J. A.↗